What is a Disability Cricket Champion Club?

Cricket is an inclusive sport by its nature; a sport that many people play, follow and have a passion for, for life. Across England and Wales, the ECB wish to support cricket clubs to open their gates and deliver cricket opportunities for those with disabilities. The Disability Cricket Champion Club Programme will support cricket clubs through guidance, resource and equipment, enabling them to welcome individuals with additional needs and varying abilities to support them to play, follow, officiate and volunteer. Creating a truly equitable club game and providing fantastic new opportunities for cricketers and for the Champion Clubs.

Equipment

Every Disability Cricket Champion Club will receive a free kit bag, containing plastic playing equipment and a range of balls and markers to help facilitate coaching drills and games.

Adapted and easy to use equipment can play a crucial role in enabling coaches to ensure that everyone is involved and able to enjoy the game.

Every centre that registers and goes on to be selected to be a Disability Cricket Champion Club will receive a free pack, including:

1 x ECB kit bag
4 x bats
4 x sets of stumps
10 x plastic balls
15 x tennis balls
2 x large tennis balls
3 x large tennis ball with ball-bearings (audible)
4 x batting tees
24 x cones
12 x PVC Line markers
2 x 10m ropes

Funding

All Disability Cricket Champion Clubs will be able to access ECB funding to support the promotion and delivery of their inclusive cricket sessions.

Clubs will be able to apply for up to £500 seed funding in their first year, to deploy experienced coaches*; purchase more adapted equipment; or help to promote inclusive cricket sessions.

*A club coach must assist a paid coach to build future sustainability of the programme.

The ECB and your local County Cricket Board will provide ongoing assistance supporting clubs to create links with their local schools and service providers; signposting players to further opportunities and supporting clubs to arrange match-play opportunities.

What do you need to become a Disability Cricket Champion Club?

• Affiliation to ECB
• A Constitution, Articles of Association, or equivalent governing document
• Valid Public Liability Insurance
• A recent Club bank statement
• Adoption of the ECB Safe Hands Policy
• To certify that all individuals carrying out roles in connection with the delivery of the project and which require a DBS check, have obtained the necessary clearance.
• Accessible facilities – If this provision is not currently in place, the ECB will support you to address this
• A commitment across the club to provide a fun and welcoming environment for all
• At least one qualified coach to lead the sessions